The top two picks by the Las Vegas Raiders have garnered a lot of attention and it’s not hard to see why. Tyree Wilson is an athletic marvel while Michael Mayer has been the best tight end in college football over the last two years.
However, one pick that deserves more love is the selection of cornerback Jakoridan Bennett at No. 104. After ignoring the secondary earlier in the draft, Bennett was the team’s top pick in the fourth round.
In a recent article by Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports, he wrote about the biggest steals in the 2023 NFL Draft. That list included Bennett. Here is what Trapasso had to say about the former Maryland cornerback:
Bennett was the ultra-agitating, play-anywhere teammate to first-rounder Deonte Banks. And their combine performances were almost identical. No, Bennett isn’t as long as Banks, but the former’s size actually lends itself to the natural ability to play in the slot or on the perimeter.
He has the twitch to attack the football in a hurry on in-breaking routes and comebacks and the speed and instincts to run with verticals and find the football deep down the field. The Raiders need Bennett’s elite feistiness in the secondary.
Bennett should have an opportunity right away to play for the Raiders as they need another outside cornerback. Given all of his college experience, it wouldn’t be a shock if he found himself in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.
